TV writer and producer David Milch, best known as the creator of ‘Deadwood’, is set to release his autobiography that will address his struggles with a gambling addiction that saw him lose an estimated $100 million in an 11 year period.
Milch, now 76 and in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, lost the greater part of his wealth betting on horse racing at Santa Anita racetrack in Arcadia, California not far from where he and his wife live. When once asked how often he went to the races, Milch answered: “It depends on who I’m lying to.”
The racetrack was also the setting for one of one of Milch’s uncharacteristic failures on the small screen—HBO’s drama ‘Luck’ starring Dustin Hoffman. The show was cancelled amid allegations of animal cruelty as three horses had died during filming.
The book also details how at the height of his addiction Milch was a ‘high functioning addict’ yet his love of gambling saw him lose his entire fortune and end up owing the IRS $17 million. This all came to light when Milch’s wife discovered his addiction and the debt he had amassed. She then opted to sue their business managers for failing to warn her of the extent of Milch’s gambling addiction and debt until it was too late. In the book Milch reveals that, at that time, he was living off a $40 weekly allowance.
Milch also discusses his other addictions that he has suffered from throughout his life including both alcohol and heroin.
The book will be released by publisher Random House on September 13th, 2022.
Ciaran has been working within the Gambling Industry as a deep analyst since 2019. His deep knowledge and understanding of all the gambling regulations, and processes makes him a true asset, and an always valuable point of view for Gambling Industry News, allowing us to cover every topics from a brand new perspective.